Chapter 125: The Awe of the Green Dragon Crescent Blade

Aobadaiqing left, feeling very satisfied.

Meanwhile, Yang Xin’s fleet continued northward. Soon, each evening when they stopped to anchor for the night, herders began arriving to trade, exchanging their livestock for various goods transported on the ships.

It was mainly grain.

Over the past few years, the climate on the grasslands had been quietly changing due to the onset of a Little Ice Age. The harshness of each winter was increasing, and the mortality rate among the herders’ livestock was gradually beginning to rise.

Consequently, food shortages were also worsening.

The gains from the previous Kaiyuan campaign had only allowed them to survive the last winter. If they did not stockpile enough food before the next winter arrived, people would surely starve when winter came. Trading livestock for grain was undoubtedly the most cost-effective option, as these animals could fall ill and die at any time, while stored grain was the safest bet. This time of year was also when their livestock numbers were at their peak, making it the perfect opportunity to exchange some animals for grain to prepare for winter.

Soon, it wasn’t just Chahua’s people who came.

The Liao River connected northward to the dozens of Noyans of the entire Inner Khalkha Five Tribes.

All the herders needed to trade.

Previously, they either relied on Shanxi Merchants who ventured into the grasslands or organized trips to the designated border markets. The former had difficulty transporting heavy, low-value goods like grain, while the latter required the herders to travel to specific locations themselves. Yang Xin’s fleet avoided these drawbacks entirely. He led northward nearly a hundred riverboats of the Grain Tribute Boat class, each loaded with dozens of tons of cargo. They were like merchants driving trucks into a village. Even though there were no proper ports, it posed no problem for herders on horseback…

These riverboats had a draft that could not exceed the height of a horse’s back.

They anchored directly in the shallows, and the herders could ride their horses right onto the decks. In the past, boarding a ship like this would have meant killing and looting, but with Yang Tongzhi presiding, they could only come to trade.

As for the cattle, sheep, and horses acquired by Yang Xin’s side during these trades, they were herded along the riverbank. These belonged to Yang Xin, and the herders did not dare to steal them either. He simply hired a group of herders to drive the animals—though it wasn’t really a hire. These were men sent by Aobadaiqing, who had taken back a large quantity of goods as gifts from Yang Xin to his father and left three hundred cavalrymen with Yang Xin to tend the livestock. They drove this growing herd, following Yang Xin’s fleet first north to Kaiyuan, then catching up with the emptied ships on their return to Sancha River.

The horses were then sold to Xiong Tingbi.

He was in the midst of his plan to pacify Liaodong with an army of one hundred eighty thousand men and ninety thousand horses.

So he would buy as many as he could get.

Yang Xin, meanwhile, would drive the cattle inside the frontier passes to be kept at his various military farms.

As for the sheep, he left them for the brothers garrisoning Kaiyuan to raise and eat. In fact, a large portion of the supplies he was selling was the military rations for these very men. But in Yang Xin’s view, living on just rice and flour was clearly not as good as gnawing on roasted lamb legs.

As his fleet progressed slowly along the Liao River, even some from more distant nomadic areas came. Their leaders brought large groups of herders, driving their herds to conduct concentrated trade as if at a border market.

After all, everyone knew each other.

Or, it could be said they genuinely feared and revered Yang Xin. His Green Dragon Crescent Blade was the symbol of unimpeded passage across these grasslands. Robbery was out of the question—the sight of that Green Dragon Crescent Blade mounted on the ship’s bow would instantly crush any such thoughts.

They all respected strength.

No matter who it was.

Whether it was Zaisai, Nuantu, Zhong Nen, or Ang An, they all showed their respect for strength, for this Green Dragon Crescent Blade. No one considered robbery anymore. They all knew what the consequences would be. They had all seen how Yang Xin fought his way into Kaiyuan. If they angered this guy and he, in a bad mood one day, came wandering into their pastures like a wild wolf, killing everyone he saw, these Noyans were confident they could not possibly stop him.

Yang Xin’s combat prowess allowed him to single-handedly take on hundreds of cavalry without breaking a sweat.

If such a person deliberately waged guerrilla warfare, these nomadic tribes, who needed to disperse for herding, truly could not withstand it.

Those living in walled towns and settlements might not fear him, but the nomadic tribes really couldn’t hold out. Their families were scattered across the vast grasslands, with at most a few families clustered together. Even these Noyans usually didn’t have many men around them. How could they resist a surprise attack by Yang Xin? They also couldn’t keep their followers gathered together all the time, because their herding required dispersion. Without spreading out to herd, they would starve even without Yang Xin killing them.

In short, they could not provoke this monster.

Moreover, Chahua, as the alliance leader of the five tribes, had already issued an order. This fleet was under his protection. Anyone who dared to plunder it would be showing him disrespect. Likewise, the respected Buddhist lama by his side claimed he was going to Laomi Bay to receive General Yang’s offering to the Buddha. General Yang deserved everyone’s respect, and General Yang’s goods also needed everyone’s collective protection.

In short, no one was allowed to rob these ships.

Not only were the Inner Khalkha Five Tribes forbidden, but if other tribes dared to come near, the Inner Khalkha Five Tribes would unite to drive them away. They needed to keep a close watch on the nearest Khorchin Tribe especially; if they crossed the boundary, they would be fought.

And it wasn’t just this batch of ships.

Henceforth, all ships transporting supplies to Kaiyuan, as long as they flew the Green Dragon Crescent Banner at the front, were not to be robbed.

And so, with the Green Dragon Crescent Blade leading the way, the fleet traded with the herders while continuing up the Liao River. Finally, half a month later, they arrived at their destination in a grand procession, the herd on the shore accompanying them.

Laomi Bay.

“Jiannu cavalry entered Guangshun Pass yesterday!”

Zhao Shuaijiao said with a grave expression.

Yang Xin and Chen Yujie glanced at each other and smiled slightly.

“Do you two know something?”

Zhao Shuaijiao asked, puzzled.

“It’s nothing. Our business has upset some people. They sent Zhu Shichang to Sancha River to try and intimidate us, and then Zhu Shichang’s head ended up stuck in the riverbank mud!”

Chen Yujie said.

“Stuck?”

Zhao Shuaijiao was momentarily dumbfounded.

Clearly, the use of this word here was quite unexpected.

“Damn!”

He exclaimed immediately after.

“No need to worry. I have an Imperial Edict granting special permission here!”

Yang Xin said.

“Then it’s fine. We brothers are stationed alone at Kaiyuan, acting as a shield for the entire Liaodong. I, Zhao Shuaijiao, am not even from Liaodong. Why should I risk my life to protect these Liaodong noble families? One must have a conscience. Isn’t it just sharing a bit of silver with them? These guys have been profiting for over two hundred years. Can’t we newcomers even get a sip of the broth? That’s just unreasonable. If they dare to invite the enemy, we’ll fight. Who’s afraid of that Wild Boar Skin anyway!”

Zhao Shuaijiao immediately said indignantly.

“How are you so sure they invited the enemy?”

Yang Xin asked with a smile.

“Brother Yang, you don’t fully understand how these frontier noble families operate. They’ve had dealings with these barbarians for centuries. They are enemies when they need to be, and friends when they need to be. It’s all for silver. When they need to show merit to the court, they go out and raid, cutting off some heads to make the Emperor happy. When they need to ask the court for money and grain, they go discuss it with the barbarians, who then come to attack the passes and harass, scaring the court so that money and grain arrive.

Even the barbarians attacking the passes get a share.

If the court sends an official they don’t like?

That’s easy!

Quietly go find some barbarians, tell them this person’s whereabouts, give them some silver, and then one day when this person goes out, he ‘accidentally’ encounters a barbarian ambush and gets shot full of arrows like a hedgehog.

They all do this.

Zhu Shichang’s family has been in Liaodong for over two hundred years, holding the hereditary post of Commander of Dingliao Forward Guard for over two centuries. You think he doesn’t have some shady connections with Wild Boar Skin? That would be truly strange. This time, you humiliated him so badly, and he can’t touch you. What else can he do but ask Wild Boar Skin for help?”

Zhao Shuaijiao said.

Clearly, the noble families from his Jinglu Guard had done plenty of this as well.

These hereditary military families from the various Ming frontier guards had, by now, basically gentrified. Moreover, they and the barbarians had long formed a special interdependent relationship.

Li Chengliang was just the one who perfected it.

But in reality, all these frontier noble families played this game. Their locations weren’t great places; it was hard to make money like the gentry inland. So, they lived off the mountains, off the water, and off the barbarians. Nurturing, manipulating, and even inviting barbarian raids were all essential. Likewise, no one understood this better than those from such families. So, as soon as Yang Xin mentioned it, Zhao Shuaijiao—hailing from a family of hereditary Assistant Imperial Guard Commanders of the Jinglu Guard—immediately understood what would happen.

But Yang Xin’s trade venture was a partnership with him.

Zhao Shuaijiao brought his own Household Servants to Liaodong; he certainly didn’t come to offer free service.

He, a man from the northwest, came to the northeast to fight; of course, he wanted some benefits too. If the Liaodong noble families weren’t even willing to share this bit of profit, then…

Then they were just being unreasonable!

“Never mind all that. If soldiers come, we’ll block them; if water comes, we’ll dam it. If Wild Boar Skin wants to come, we’ll be waiting!”

Zhao Shuaijiao added immediately.

With Yang Xin here, their confidence was extremely high.

“Aobadaiqing is here!”

Chen Yujie said, holding a telescope.

Yang Xin and the other quickly turned to look at the opposite bank. A large group of Mongolian cavalry was surging forward. Among them were not only Aobadaiqing and his brother Nangnuke but also Erdgegei and other Noyans of the Bairin Tribe. Within the Inner Khalkha Five Tribes, Chahua’s tribe and the Bairin Tribe were in the south, comprising twenty Noyans together. The Jarud, Uban, and Bayod tribes, with twenty-four Noyans combined, were in the north, roughly covering the vast grasslands from modern-day Fuxin to Siping. They effectively separated Wild Boar Skin from the Khorchin Tribe.

“Regional Military Commander, Zaisai and Zhong Nen have brought men, requesting entry through the pass!”

At the same moment, an officer galloped up on horseback to report.

He was referring to the Xin’an Pass.

It was not far to the north—the pass through which the northern tribes entered the Liaodong Frontier Wall.

“With me here, there’s no need to worry. Let them come!”

Yang Xin said.

The officer hurried back to Xin’an Pass.

“Dergele is here too. Who’s that beside him?”

Zhao Shuaijiao said, looking at another cavalry force approaching from the direction of Kaiyuan.

“His cousin, Boo Yanggu. Very good, they all give me face. This is quite a gathering for us!”

Yang Xin said with a smile.